"How did we get here?" Click on Kim's picture below to read about her journey, from the very beginning.

We Climbed before the Klimb 4 Kim...

1997's Climb

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Counting Stars

Sometimes I can't remember....

....I hear a song, and look for the memories attached...

....or drive down a street and find a time that we did together...

The drive interrupted by a new business. Or road improvements. Or new homes.

And my mind drifts - this song...? Did Kim hear this one? Was she here when this group put this out? Lately, it's One Republic. Or Train. Any of her favorites. When I hear them, I think that it was one of Kim's songs and wait for where we were when we first heard it together. When nothing comes, I think 'Kim would have liked this tune'...

Here's another one - convenience stores. Yes, gas stations with mini markets! When we lived in Pennsylvania, it seemed 7-11 was dominant. And we loved the Slurpees. I liked the collectible cups that they would put out. The 1988 men's Olympic Basketball team was one of my favorite. I had accumulated a trunk full of them. Our cabinets were stuffed with them.

"Dave?" Kim would begin. Gently. "Maybe we could get rid of some of the older cups? To make room?" "But they are perfect size for iced tea!" I'd appeal. I think I still have a Michael Jordan cup somewhere!

When we moved here, Circle K was like 7-11 on steroids. We loved the drink selection. And chili jalapeno hot dogs!?!?!? We probably went to a Circle K every other day. And, I'm convinced, we were at every Circle K in Tucson over the time that we lived here!

Now there is QT. I'm sure that Kim had never been. And I know that she would have loved them! Fresh brewed iced tea! At a convenience store!?!?! And in several flavors, including mango, my current favorite and Kim loved all things mango. The newer QT's feature a snack bar that have fantastic soft pretzels and real cappuccino!

The employees great you as you enter. And, after checking out, they say 'See you next time!'. The bambini love it. Cody has discovered their make-your-own milk shake machine and turned Tonio into a fan. Autumn like's the selection of bottled lemonade. They have the Tapatio/Lime potato chips that Breanna got me hooked on.

Crazy, eh?

But when I'm driving around, not really thinking about anything...these things come up.

Road improvements...Houghton corridor widening project. A running joke between Kim and I. On the books when we moved here in 1994. We'd often comment that if only they had begun before they built the Civano, then Mesquite Ranch, the Desert Willow Estates (our development), then Sierra Morado - it would have been a much quicker, easier and less expensive project, since it was only desert on both sides of the road. The project runs approximately 10 miles from Houghton and I-10 on the southern end of the project to Tanque Verde and Houghton on the north end. She would have gotten a chuckle and found irony in the city deciding to start the project, seemingly randomly, in the not quite middle between Valencia and Irvington

There is no doubt that Kim had a great appreciation for life and the experiences that we shared. She lived each day to the fullest, no regrets. Yet...as I witness 'progress' and change, I wonder what experience they would have brought to us. Or, in some cases, I struggle to remember if maybe we had some shared memories in what I was passing or seeing.

Movies are another. When we watch a movie together on Netflix, or on t.v., I think "Kim and I saw this...or did we?"

It has become almost a game with me, trying to decipher WK (With Kim) and AK (After Kim).

ESCAPE!!

Bisbee, AZ

Best friends!! Brinley and Tonio building castles..

More Best Friends! Monsi and Tonio ride coaster at Peter Piper Pizza!!

Cody trips the Merry-Go-Round!

The bambini continue to fill my days...so thankful for them, so blessed to have them.

Cuz when I was a kid, there were these inflatable guys called 'bop bags'. Sometimes they were clowns, like Bozo. Sometimes you could find them as super heroes like Batman. Or Scooby Doo. They were almost pear shaped and the bottom has some sort of sand or something to make it heavier.

3 comments:

Your words inspire me to live my life the "Kimmy" way. Each day is a gift an I constantly take in my surroundings, memories to be made and the beauty in each and every day. I think about Kim and your family so very often. Kim touched so many lives...near and far and her grace lives in you and your family. I see it in your writings and pictures. Thinking of you and your family Dave-

Stefanie (who met your family eons ago during our short 1.5 year stay in Tucson)

We are well...adjusted to living back in Michigan. My husband and I are hoping to come to AZ possibly in the spring for a visit. Reconnection time - I miss friends there! And sunshine. Kim's net sure is large isn't it? Amazing what a gift she was to everyone she touched...some are never so lucky. Keep writing..my kids like to see how Autumn and Tonio are growing as well ...the miss a bit of Arizona too :)

About Me

I'm a beach girl trapped in the desert - I feel free at the beach. I'm a mother of three, beautiful children - Cody, Autumn and Antonio. I spend a lot of time volunteering in their schools and enjoy working with the children and their teachers.